SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — Joan and Cleveland Robin are ready to serve you an array of decadent desserts and baked goods at their Peaches & Cream Heavenly Treats ice cream parlor.
“I had a dream of opening our own place,” said Cleveland Robin, 69, a native of Guyana who moved to the U.S. as a youth.
The Robins opened their business in October after overcoming a number of obstacles to meet operational requirements, according to Cleveland Robin, who served in the Marine Corps from 1973 to 1998 with overseas deployment. His military career included food service assignments as well as weapons.
Joan Robin, nicknamed ”Mojo,” is a native of Tanzania, Africa, where she was a high school teacher.
The couple met while Joan was visiting a friend in Washington state, where Cleveland owned a set of group homes caring for patients with dementia and mental health challenges.
The couple married about three years ago and moved to the Silver Springs Shores area, where Cleveland has family. The Robins joined efforts to launch the new business venture.
Ice cream flavors served at Peaches & Cream Heavenly Treats include vanilla, birthday cake, blueberry cheesecake, bubblegum, cappuccino chip, coconut, Rocky Road, and more and fountain items include cones; flurries, which are soft ice cream mixed with candy like white chocolate; ice cream floats; milkshakes; and banana boats.
Soft serve, several flavors of sherbet and lactose free ice cream are also available.
Baked goods made in house include chocolate cheese cake cookies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies and Red Velvet cupcakes.
Tanzania Spice Tea is also served.
Peaches & Cream Heavenly Treats features DeConna brand ice cream, a company now including three generations of the DeConna family. The brand was established in 1947 and is based in northwest Marion County.
The company has a co-packer in Nebraska, which packs the 3-gallon ice cream containers typically used in ice cream shops, according to Vince DeConna, son of founder Don DeConna.
Vince DeConna said his company handles about 3,000 gallons a week in the 3-gallon containers.
Vince DeConna indicated tried and true vanilla remains a very popular flavor, although flavors like Moose Tracks are also popular.
Vince DeConna said some of the challenges facing a startup ice cream business can include increased rents and having additional foods choices available for customers.
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Pastor Tom Morgan of New Life Pentecostal Church, which the Robins attend, said the couple is “always smiling and ready to serve” and well suited to run the ice cream parlor.
The Robins ran into obstacles “but they kept at it until the door opened, They are great, faithful people,” Morgan said.
Peaches & Cream Heavenly Treats, 9427 SE Maricamp Road, Silver Springs Shores, (352) 680-0700
